Controller.



1. E. LYNCH.

CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.30. 1915,

4Lua'tented Apr. 30, 1918.

ZU/N/esses/ T@ PATE@ FFM. i

JEROME E. LYNCH, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO LYNCH & WOODWRD,

OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A PARTNERSHI? COMPOSED 0Fv JEROME E. `:LYNCHAND JAMES W. WOODWARD.

rennais. i

y the following is a'speciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in controllers particularlythough not exclusively adapted for controlling and operating dampers,valves and like devices.

The object of the invention is to providek a simple,.sensitive andaccurate controller constructed and arranged to be operated by theapplication of a predetermined pressure of vapor to open or closedampers, valves and the like.

rlhe invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts setforth in the foll lowing specification and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of a controllerembodying my invention, the same being operatively connected with ladamper as illustrative of one specic adaptation of the device. p

`llfig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-`-2 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals referto like parts in both views ofthe drawings;

ln the drawings, 5 is a casing which preferably consists of an outercylindrical portion 6 and an inner cylindrical portion 7. The upper ends8 and 9 of said outer and inner portions respectively are closed, whilethe lower ends 10 and 11 of said casing members respectively are eachprovided with an .annular flange 12 to which a ring 18 is secured,Vpreferably by bolts 111.

Theportion 7 of said casing is substantially shorter and smaller indiameter than the portion 6, thus providing an annular chamber 15between the sidewalls of said casing portions and also a chamber 16between the closed ends 8 and 9 of said casing portions. The chambers 15and 16 constitute a float chamber within which is arranged a iioat 17,preferably cylindrical in sha-pe and closed at its upper end 18, whilethe lower end 19 of said fioat is open.

The casing 5 is adapted to contain liquid,

the normal level of which is slightly below the upper closed end 9 ofthe inner portion 7 of said casing as indicated by the line A,

Specification of Letters Patent.

CONTROLLER.

Application filed August 30, 1915. Serial No. 48,090.

saidilevel being maintained by an overflow pipe 20. The "liquidindicated at A substantially fills the chamber 15, while the chamber 16is adapted to contain steam or other vapor which are admitted thereto"under pressure through a vapor inlet-pipe 21 connected with the casingadjacent tothe upper wall 8 of the outer portion thereof.

lThe inlet pipe 21 is preferably connected with a vapor supply pipe 22which leads from any suitable source of supply.` This supply aipe isalso connected to the overflow pipe 20 y means of a check valve 23,which prevents the vapor supplied through the supply pipe 22 frompassingdirectly into the casing 5 on the level of the liquid ".A containedtherein, but causessaid vapor to pass upwardly tothefluid inlet pipe 21.Saidcheck valve is however arranged to be opened by the pressure ofwater or liquid upon the inside of said casing when said liquid reachesthe level of said valve, thus permitting the same to return to theboiler or othen source from whence the vapor is sup-` Ip 1e i y rllheioat 17 `is arranged to move vertically preferably midway between theouter and inner portions 6 and 7 of said casing inwhich position saidfloat is preferably guided by means ofva` rod 24 secured to the end 18of said float andpassing downwardly therefrom through an opening25 inthe wall 9 of the inner portion of the casing 6. The lower end of therod 21 is still further guided and controlled in its verticalreciprocations preferably by a cross frame 26 secured withinv the innerportion-7. An .eye 27 is preferably formed at the lower-end of the rod24C and upon a bracket 32 secured to the ring 13. The outer end' 33 ofsaid lever 8O is operatively connected in any suitable manner,preferably by a chain 3st extending over suitable pulleys 3,5, in the.present instance with a damper 36 shown somewhat diagrammatical andwhereby the movements of said fioat vertically will cause Ysaid damperto be opened or closed,`as desired, to regulate the draft of a boiler.

A counter weight 37 is mounted preferably upon the outerarm of the lever30 and is adjustable thereon so as to vary the weight that must belifted by the pressure ofvapor upon the float 17 before said oat can beoperated to move theV damper connected with y said lever. The interior38 of the float 17 above the level of the liquid A is adapted to containair which is admitted thereto through the opening 25 in the stationarypart ot said casing, said opening being slightly larger in diameter thanthe rod 24. Means carried partly by the movable member or float 17 andin part mounted upon the stationary portion 17 of the casing are adaptedto close the opening 25 when the float 17 is depressed a predeterminedamount in order to prevent the liquid in said casing from beingdischarged through said opening after said float has reached the limitof its downward nuoven ment.

The means just described consist of a valve 39 preferably adjustablysecured to the float 17 while a valve seat 4() secured vto thestationary portion `7 is adapted to cooperate with said valve to performthe functions hereinbefore rei'erred to. To adjust the device so that itwill operate at varying pressures vto close the opening 25 the weight 37may be vmoved toward or away from the pivot 31 of the lever 30 andthereby increase or diminish :the weight to be lifted thereby.

The lweight 37 cooperates with the resistance ofthevair from the chamber38 in said float as it escapesv through the opening 25 to checkthemovements of said'tloat. The size ofthe openingf25 isk also adaptedto be made largeror smaller, as desired, to increase or diminish theamount of air which is permitted to escape through said openingwherebythe movements ot said ioat will be correspondingly increased ordiminished.

Thel means for varying the size of j the opening and the ,amount of airwhich is permitted to pass through said opening preferably consists of abushing 41 which is secure'd in the upper wall 9 of the interior portionof said casing. They bushing 41 has a flange 42 which rests upon theupper surface vot the wall 9, while secured to said ange is the seat 40`for the valve 39. The bushing 41 extends through said vpartition 9 andis held stationary therein by screw-threads 43 upon the outer surface ofthe portion ot said, bushing extending` through said partition. Saidbushing also extends a substantial distance below the portion 9.and isengaged by an adjustable screw-threaded cap 44y having a central hole 45constituting a guide for the rod V24 of saidI float. A plurality ofslots 46 are arranged about the bushing 41 and adapted to be opened orclosed by the movement of the cap 44 longitudinally of said bushing. Thecap 44 is readilyadjustable fromvbeneath the device, permitting the sametov be rotated at any time to vary the checking power of said aircushion.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The damper 36 may be set so that there controlled thereby will produce aprede termined pressure or steam. Should the load for which the damperis adjusted be suddenly decreased the pressure oi2 steam in the boilerwill naturally7 be increased and this increase will be transmitted tothe chamber 16 against the tloat 17 causing said iioat to be depressed.The depression of the float 17 operates through the rod 24 and link28 torock the lever 30 upon its pivot 31 in opposition to the force exertedby the weight 37, thereby causing the damper 36 to close so as to checkthe draft' of the furnace.

Should the pressure within the chamber 16 be reduced by the condensationof the steam therein or for any other reason the lioat 17 will be movedupwardly by the weight 37 and in consequence the damper 36 will beopened so as to increase the draft.

The downward movement ot the tioat 17 will be retarded by the air withinsaid iioat, which is permitted to escape, but slowly, through thepassages 46, which passages may be enlarged or decreased as desired byadjusting the collar 44.

Should the pressure of the vapor within the chamber 16 continue longenough to cause the float to descend a. predetermined distance, thisdistance being governed bythe position of the valve 39 and the rod 24,said valve will engage the seat 42 and thus close the passages 46,preventingvthe escape ot the liquid in the casing 5.

It will thus be obvious that any sudden increase inthe' pressure ofvapor entering the chamber 16 will be prevented trom suddenly depressingthe float 17, but instead the movements thereof will be checked by theaction of the air within said float which must gradually escapebeforesaidiioat will be permitted to descend. The movement'of the damper 36will, therefore, be yvery slow and gradual rather than sudden. Themovement of the lioat in the oppositie direction will also be gradualfor like reasons.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire by LettersPatent to secure is:

1. A controller having, in combination, a float provided with an airchamber, a casing for said float constructed and arranged to containliquid, said liquid constituting a seal for the air within said airchamber, an air valve communicating with the air chamber in said float,a vapor inlet for said easing adapted to direct vapor into said casing`against said iioat to expel the air from said air chamber through saidair valve and means constructed and arranged to adjust said air valve toincrease or diminish the amount of air passing through said valve andthereby increase yor diminish the resistk ancelto themovement of saidfloat.

2. AVcontrollerhaving, in combination, a float provided with an airchamber, a easing for said'float constructed and arranged to containliquid, said liquid constituting a seal for the air Within said airchamber, an air Valve communicating With said chamber, a vapor inlet forsaid casing adapted to direct vapor against said float to expel the airfrom said air chamber through said air Valve, and means constructed andarranged to vary the opening of said air valve Whereby the resistance tothe movements of said 10 float may be increased or diminished.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Wlt- Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve centseach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, JD. C.

